How to Effectively Use Floating Row Covers in Your Garden
Floating row covers are essential tools for gardeners looking to protect their plants. To maximize their benefits, follow these steps:
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Use Supports: Begin by placing the row cover over hoops or another sturdy support system. This keeps the cover elevated, allowing space for plant growth beneath it.
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Secure the Edges: Due to the cover's lightweight nature, securing it is crucial. Use bricks, stones, or wooden boards to hold down the edges. This ensures stability and prevents it from being blown away by strong winds.
By implementing these strategies, you can enhance your garden's health and productivity while protecting your plants from pests and weather extremes.
Which crops benefit from using floating row covers through the growing season?
Floating row covers offer excellent protection for various crops throughout the growing season. They are particularly beneficial for members of the cabbage family, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale. These covers effectively deter pests like cabbage butterflies and moths by preventing them from laying eggs on the leaves, which would eventually turn into harmful caterpillars.
The beet family also sees significant advantages from using floating row covers. Vegetables like spinach, beets, and Swiss chard are protected from adult leafminer flies. These covers stop the flies from depositing eggs on the leaves, which can cause destruction as the larvae develop.
By using floating row covers, you can safeguard these vulnerable plants and ensure a healthy, thriving garden.
